ALPHA ADRIAN’S PLAYTHING.

Selene’s POV I should have known better. Five years ago, when Evelyn disappeared without a trace, leaving a trail of unanswered questions, I should have never accepted Callan’s proposal. I should have questioned everything—the way Callum’s sudden affection swept over me, his proposal of alliance between our packs with our marriage. I should have known that all his proclamations of love were just an act. But back then, I wanted to believe. I dared to dream, dared to believe that he could love me as deeply as I had always loved him. I wanted to believe that the mate bond we had was deep and he was starting to feel it. But boy, I was wrong. Warm tears slid down my cheeks, stinging against the cold, numbed skin of my face as I stood there, staring at the scene before me. They didn’t even have the decency to hide it. I had always believed Callum held some respect for me, that even if his love had faded, he would still shield me from this humiliation. But there he was, utterly lost in h

Selene’s POVI could feel it—the rejection clawing, tearing at my insides. It was more than just words, more than just a sentence; it was as if Callum had reached inside and torn out my heart, leaving only the hole. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Mates were meant to be sacred bonds, forged by destiny. But Callum had shattered it without a second thought, without even looking back.The pain spread across my body like a fire, searing every nerve, every part of me that had ever believed in him, in us. It was like being set ablaze from the inside out. My knees buckled, and I barely managed to catch myself on a table nearby. I heard rejections were brutal, that some didn’t survive it at all. But I hadn’t expected it to feel like dying in slow motion. There was no relief, no way to numb it; it just kept coming, wave after wave, pulling me under.“Selene,” he said coldly, “Let’s not make this harder than it has to be.”He didn’t flinch. He didn’t feel a thing. Callum was unaffected, his ey

Selene’s POV**I stared at the man in front of me, arms crossed, trying to make sense of why he’d sought me out of all people. He looked like trouble wrapped in a finely cut suit, with eyes so intense they seemed to strip me bare, seeing through whatever defenses I still had left.“So,” I began, clearing my throat, “are you going to tell me your name, or should I just call you ‘the guy who wants something from me’?”A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he inclined his head slightly, those dark eyes never leaving mine. “Adrian,” he said smoothly. “And as for why I picked you…well, you’re the closest contact I have to Callum.”I now hated that name. “And what’s that supposed to mean? What kind of history do you have with him?”He let out a low chuckle, shrugging in a way that felt casual yet loaded with secrets. “That’s none of your business, Selene. All you need to decide is whether you want in or not.”I narrowed my eyes, folding my arms tighter across my chest. “I still don

Adrian’s POVThe car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the house, the brakes hissing like a final warning. I glanced over at her, noting the way her wide-eyed gaze lingered on the mansion as if she had just stumbled upon a secret she wished she could unsee. It wasn’t the largest house in the city, but it was elegant, tasteful—perhaps a touch too grand for someone in her position. For someone like me, though, it was just another place to conduct business.“Is this…?” She trailed off, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “This isn’t some trafficking thing, is it?” She shifted in her seat, inching away as if she was calculating an escape route.I held back a smirk, the old familiar urge to tease her rising. “Not that it’s any of your business,” I replied coolly, reaching over to open the car door. “Now, are you coming in, or should I leave you here to question everything?”She scowled, huffing as she stepped out of the car, pulling her coat tighter around her. “You still haven’t answered w

SELENE’S POVI lie on the bed, the sheets cool against my skin, pressing into every vulnerable, shameful inch of me. I pull the blanket up, shielding myself, though I know it’s no real protection. My body feels tense, every muscle coiled like a spring, fighting against the embarrassing awareness flooding my mind. I’m raw—undone—and he’s the one who’s done it. I can’t escape the way he’s looking at me, as though every inch of me belongs to him, like I’m some open book he’s flipping through without care for my comfort.He stands beside the bed, silent but close enough for me to feel the weight of his gaze, a heat that seems to seep under my skin. I curl a little tighter, trying to make myself smaller, but it only makes him chuckle, a soft, deep sound that sends chills down my spine. His eyes trace along the curve of my shoulder, lingering on every spot I wish I could hide.“Don’t cover yourself, Selene.” His voice is low, laced with a challenge I’m too flustered to meet. My fingers dig